Name/Title
Patent ModelEntry/Object ID
1966.19.2a-bDescription
Patent model of a new system for carriage brakes.
The model is just the chassis and wheels of the carriage, in two pieces. The pieces are held together through a pin that connects the front axle to the body of the chassis.
The whole chassis is made of wood and metal, with four wheels, the front pair smaller than the rear. The braking system is activated when the carriage rolls backward, or by a hand brake that is connected to a lever at the left front of the chassis.
The brakes themselves are in front of the rear carriage wheels, held in place by a strip going horizontally across the width of the chassis. When the lever is activated, the wood strip slides backwards and engages the brakes.Context
Made by Benjamin F. Wheeler of Calais, VT
From a label in an exhibit: "The self-acting brake no longer stopped forward motion, but prevented a wagon from rolling backward when it was ascending a hill."Acquisition
Accession
1966.19Source or Donor
Wheeler, Myrtie B.Acquisition Method
GiftMade/Created
Artist
Wheeler, Benjamin F.Date made
1868Place
Town
CalaisCounty
Washington CountyState/Province
VermontCountry
United States of AmericaContinent
North AmericaLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
Model, PatentNomenclature Primary Object Term
ModelNomenclature Sub-Class
Other DocumentsNomenclature Class
Documentary ObjectsNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication ObjectsDimensions
Dimension Description
OverallHeight
7-1/2 inWidth
10 inLength
23 inInterpretative Labels
Label
Patent Model
Benjamin F. Wheeler
Calais, Vermont
Wood, metal
Gift of Myrtie B. Wheeler, 1966.19.2ab
The United States Patent and Trademark Office required inventors to submit a patent model for their designs from 1790 – 1880. Models could be no larger than 12” in any direction. The requirement was a way to make the patent process accessible to homegrown inventors who might not have the drafting or engineering expertise necessary to submit a full, formal patent application. Inventors can still submit a patent model today, particularly in situations where a working model would provide better evidence of their design than the patent application itself. Thanks to several fires at the patent offices in Washington, D.C., many patent models have been lost over the years; others were dispersed in subsequent sales. The Vermont Historical Society possesses a number of patent models related to Vermont inventions.
This patent model showing a new design for carriage brakes was submitted by Benjamin Wheeler. We don’t know much about him other than he primarily worked as a farmer, and submitted this and one patent for a sleigh braking system, also in the VHS collections (1966.19.1).